Research & Development
Industrial communication never stands still. As new technologies emerge and established ones fade, staying ahead of the curve is essential. For over 35 years, Hilscher has played a key role in shaping global factory infrastructures, production lines, and machines—from the earliest fieldbus systems to the latest Industry 4.0 innovations.
Innovation is more than a buzzword for us—it's a mindset. It's what drives our teams and defines how we collaborate with research institutions, nurture emerging talent, and empower our engineers around the globe.
At Hilscher, R&D isn’t just a department—it’s the engine behind our cutting-edge products and future-ready solutions. Dive in to meet the international minds building the next generation of industrial communication technology. You won’t want to miss what’s coming next.
Our fields of research
Chip Development
The further development of our netX communication controllers is at the heart of our research. Starting with the first netX controller in 2005, netX technology has now become the de facto standard for flexible communication in industry. By 2025, over 24 million network nodes based on netX will have been installed in the field - and the trend is rising.
The implementation of new requirements such as time-sensitive networking (TSN) or single-pair Ethernet (SPE) are just as much a focus for our chip developers as performance improvements for gigabit technologies and IIoT connectivity.
Hardware Development
Industrial communication demands precision, flexibility, and reliability. That’s why we develop a versatile range of netX-based hardware: from embedded modules for integration into embedded systems, to cifX PC cards, edge gateways for intelligent data handling, and IO-Link masters for sensor-level communication.
Our experts also design and test customized devices tailored to specific customer needs—robust, application-ready, and built to perform.
Software
No functioning hardware without software. As a full-service provider for industrial communication, a large part of our research and development capacity is focused on software components. In addition to our loadable firmware stacks, this also includes corresponding drivers for different operating systems and tools for configuring products and networks.
Test & Qualification
A communication component failure is often synonymous with an entire production downtime. To ensure that you can rely on our products for networking your machines and devices, we carry out intensive qualification and certification of our products and test them extensively.
Hilscher Headquarters – Hattersheim, Germany
At our headquarter in Hattersheim, we pool all our expertise to develop innovative solutions for industrial communication. Since our foundation in 1986, we have been firmly rooted in Hattersheim near Frankfurt. This location is the center of our technological innovation and brings together all the key areas required for the development of modern automation solutions.
Hardware
The basis for our communication solutions is created in hardware development. From embedded modules to PC cards as well as specific developments on behalf of customers - this is where we develop high-performance and reliable components that meet the high requirements for speed, security and availability in industrial communication. The testing and qualification of components and parts is also an essential part of this. Hardware components are tested under stringent conditions using state-of-the-art testing and measuring methods. Whether temperature stress, MTBF or IEEE tests - our specialists ensure that our hardware meets the highest industry standards and can be certified accordingly. We also work closely with proven experts for EMC and UL testing.
Software
The majority of our numerous experts work in our software development department. The focus here is primarily on the development and optimization of protocol stacks that make it possible to integrate a wide variety of communication protocols with a single netX communication controller. We also develop drivers that interact seamlessly with a wide range of hardware platforms, as well as standardized tools that enable our customers to configure our communication solutions easily.
The Hattersheim site combines state-of-the-art development and testing laboratories, a highly qualified team of engineers and specialists and a dynamic culture of innovation. This is where we lay the foundations to support companies worldwide with reliable, future-proof technologies - and set standards for the automation of the future.
Hilscher SoC – Berlin, Germany
Hilscher SoC Technology GmbH is a leading design house for the development and design of complex ASICs (customer specific) and ASSPs (standard products). The company was founded in July 2005 by Hans-Jürgen Hilscher and Sven Fiedrich. The combination of competence by Hilscher Gesellschaft für Systemautomation mbH, a leading producer of network technology for the automation industry, and the know-how of the experienced development team with more than 30 years of expertise with the design of complex digital and analog circuits results in leading edge solutions for our customers.
Based on this special combination Hilscher SoC focuses on the development of high performance ICs for industrial communication and control applications. Our goal is to combine leading edge communication with hardware for different industrial applications. The know-how of Hilscher SoC covers areas from high end digital systems to high precision analog features.
Hilscher Centrum Industry IT – Lemgo, Germany
CIIT e.V. turns new industrial automation technologies into genuine product innovations. The relevant topics of digitalization and automation technology give rise to joint, pre-competitive research and transfer projects, which we test and further develop in the real machine environment of SmartFactoryOWL.
Hilscher works and researches together with the CIIT partners on topics that are highly relevant to the industrial store floor.
For example, we are researching the digital twin in the form of the Asset Administration Shell or the interaction between security and artificial intelligence.
Together, we create added value and develop new business models that make our community strong for global competition.
Hilscher Development and Research Center – Varna, Bulgary
Founded in 2007 and based in Varna, Bulgaria, the Hilscher Development and Test Center is a specialized research and development subsidiary of Hilscher. The center is home to a team of nearly 60 highly skilled engineers dedicated to the development and refinement of Hilscher's innovative products, with a strong focus on advancing the netX technology stack, a core element of the company’s industrial communication solutions.
Committed to maintaining high-quality standards, the Varna team works in full integration with Hilscher’s headquarters, ensuring seamless collaboration and alignment across all development efforts. As an integral part of the Hilscher family, the subsidiary plays a pivotal role in driving innovation and supporting the company's global success.
